Retail

Russian discount retailer Svetofor has announced plans expand to Romania with the opening of a network of stores under the Mere banner. According to an article in ZF Companii, the retailer plans to open 100 stores in the next two years, the first opening this September in Snagov, about 40km north of Bucharest, and the second opening in the same month in the city of Brasov. At an average size …

European supermarket heavyweights Tesco and Carrefour have announced plans to form a strategic alliance covering global supplier relationships, the joint purchasing of own brand products and goods not for resale. Anticipated to be formally agreed within the next two months, the partnership will be governed by a three-year operational framework. In a statement, the retailers said the alliance would enable both companies to enhance their competitiveness by improving the quality and choice …

Louis Delhaize, a Belgian retail group operating supermarkets and hypermarkets under banners such as Cora and Match, is to close its online grocery platform Wink, according to a Gondola article. Established in 2013, Wink operated as a standalone e-commerce brand with an emphasis on click and collect ordering, but failed to gain significant traction in a country where online sales currently account for little more than 1% of total grocery …

Frozen foods retailer Iceland has opened its first two stores in Norway and is now looking for new sites in the country in which to expand, the company has announced. The UK-based chain, which already has a moderate presence in international markets, opened its first store in Norway at the end of May, located in a 280 sq m unit in Asker. Containing a total of 33 freezer cabinets, the …

Kroger, the leading US supermarket business, has announced that it has sealed a partnership with UK grocery e-retailer Ocado in order to “accelerate Kroger’s creation of a seamless shopping experience for America’s families”. The firm said that the deal would bring the technology behind Ocado’s Smart Platform, which includes online ordering, automated fulfillment and home delivery capabilities, to the US for the first time. The deal will enable the company …

Kaufland, the leading German supermarket chain operated by the Schwarz Group, has announced the launch of a new private label brand called Bevola, focused on health and beauty and exclusively available at Kaufland stores. Launched with the slogan “love yourself – take care of yourself”, the brand line consists of over 120 items targeted at “the whole family”. Products under the new brand include face, body and shave care produces for …

Supermarket chains Sainsbury’s and Asda, the 2nd and 3rd leading players in UK grocery retail respectively, have announced that they have reached an agreement to merge the two business in a deal that is set to shake up the UK supermarket sector. “The Combined Business will create a dynamic new player in UK retail with an outstanding breadth of products, delivered through multiple channels”, the two firms said in a statement. The …

The Argentinian arm of US retailer Walmart and Mercadoni, a leading online shopping platform, have announced a partnership agreement enabling online orders to be delivered faster, according to a report in America Retail. According to sources, the agreement allows orders in the city of Buenos Aires to be delivered within two hours of being placed. Fernando Rubirosa, associate director of e-commerce at Walmart Argentina, said: “The pilot scheme that we …

French retailer Carrefour has announced that it intends to invest R$1.8 billion ($532.7 million) in Brazil across 2018, with plans in place to open 50 new stores over the course of the year. According to InfoMoney, the investment was announced by the company’s CFO Sébastien Durchon during a meeting with investors. The retailer said it planned to open 20 of its Atacadao wholesale stores in 2018, along with 10 hypermarkets …

The US arm of Mexican grocer Chedraui has reached an agreement to acquire the Texan supermarket chain Fiesta Mart. The deal was made through Chedraui’s California-based division Bodega Latina, owner of the El Super chain, and allows Bodega Latina to expand to Texas, where Fiesta Mart operates 63 supermarkets. Commenting on the purchase, Bodega Latina’s president and CEO Carlos Smith said: “The acquisition of Fiesta allows us to meaningfully expand …

Hoogvliet, the Dutch supermarket chain, has announced an expansion of its private label product range with the launch of a premium assortment under the name Buitengewoon (‘Out Of The Ordinary’). The retailer, which operates a network of 68 stores in western and central Netherlands, said the new range would initially consist of 75 products and would target “special occasions, holidays and festivities and indulgent moments such as Sunday breakfast”. Products available …

Multinational US based retail chain 7-Eleven has announced the launch a new line of bakery products for Hispanic consumers under the private label brand 7-Select. According to a company press release, the line is being rolled out after being test marketed for a number of months in Texas and Mexico. The line is comprised of three products: Mini Pound Cake (‘Panquecitos’), Cinnamon Rolls with Raisins (‘Roles de Canela con Pasas’) …

Jumbo and Coop, two leading Dutch grocery retailers, have announced the acquisition of the retail chain Emte from Sligro Food for €410 million ($506 million). The proposed sale includes Emte’s 130 supermarkets, its retail distribution centres in Kapelle and Putten, its meat plant in Enschede and its supporting operational and commercial departments at the head office in Veghel. The deal will also see Emte’s supermarket real estate sold to the same …

Leading Italian supermarket Coop has launched D’Osa, a new private-label line entirely dedicated to home cooking, as part of its 70th anniversary celebrations. The new range is advertised as being made with 100% raw and organic Italian ingredients, with low salt content and no artificial sweeteners, colours or thickeners. Comprising 37 items in total, ranging from baking mixes to desserts, sweet and savoury pastries, flour and other baking aids, D’Osa is …

Albertsons, the US grocery retailer, has announced that it has reached an agreement to merge with Rite Aid, a leading pharmacy chain, in a cash and stock deal. Rite Aid shareholders will own a 28 to 29.6% stake in the combined company, whilst current Albertsons shareholders will own a stake from 70.4 percent to 72 percent in the combined company, upon the closure of the merger. “The combination will provide …

Lidl, the German discount retailer, is set to invest €200 million ($250 million) in Ireland in 2018 to strengthen its store and distribution network. Already the fourth largest grocery retailer in Ireland with market share of 10.5%, Lidl is now set to expand further by investing in both its stores and a new distribution centre, the latter being the firm’s largest single project for 2018 with a price tag of €80 …

Tesco, the UK’s leading grocery retailer, is considering the creation of a new ‘discount’ store chain to counteract the threat of Aldi and Lidl, according to an article in the Sunday Times. The Guardian reports that the new discount stores would seek to match the German discount supermarkets on price, while carrying only 3,000 lines, compared to 25,000 lines in a typical Tesco Extra hypermarket. The newspaper also reports that a second option …

Albertsons, the US grocery retailer, has announced the opening of a new store concept called Market Street Idaho, to be launched in two locations in the Boise, ID area. According to the company, the new banner will introduce a unique shopping and culinary experience for foodies, inviting customers to “Eat Life Up”. Susan Morris, EVP and chief operations officer of Albertsons Companies, said: “Market Street Idaho was created by a …

Kroger, the US grocery retailer, has announced it has reached an agreement to sell its convenience store business to UK forecourt retail firm EG Group for $2.15 billion. Kroger’s convenience store business operates in 18 states of the USA and includes 66 franchise operations. The stores employ 11,000 associates and operate under the names Turkey Hill, Loaf ‘N Jug, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb and Quik Stop. Kroger’s convenience store business …

Global retailer Spar has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia with the opening of three stores in Riyadh, the country’s capital. The move is described as the first phase of the retail group’s expansion in the country through a partnership with Saudi conglomerate Al Sadhan Group. While the first Spar stores in the Saudi Arabian market will be aimed at the mid- to premium sector, as the brand develops the …

Global retailer Spar has announced that Spar Netherlands and EG Group have reached an agreement to open Spar Express stores at all Texaco filling stations in the Netherlands, following a successful pilot. According to the retailer, Spar will start the conversion of around 130 Texaco stores from early 2018, planning to re-brand two stores a week with the aim of having the conversion process finished by mid-2019 at the latest. …

Albert Heijn, the Netherlands’ leading grocery retailer, is planning to leave the German market with the closure of its handful of convenience store outlets in the country in the first quarter of next year. The Dutch supermarket chain entered the German market in 2012 via the convenience store banner Albert Heijn to Go, currently operating six standalone outlets and five forecourt stores in Shell petrol stations in the country. These …

Netherlands-based retailer Jumbo is set to expand beyond the Dutch market with the opening of a new store in Bree in Belgium. According to a report in Retail Detail, Jumbo will construct a 1,997 sq m building in a new retail park that project developer Immo Bree Invest is building in the town, which is situated in the northeast of the province of Limburg, close to the Dutch border. The …

Portuguese retail and telecoms conglomerate Sonae is reportedly in talks to acquire Egyptian supermarket chain Spinneys, which is currently owned by Abraaj Group. According to an article in Jornal De Negocios (citing Bloomberg), the owner of the Continente chain is in negotiations with Abraaj Group over a potential deal that would reportedly be concluded with a local partner. Abraaj Group is also said to be negotiating the sale of Spinneys …

Maxima Grupe, a Lithuania based holding company that controls retail chains, has announced that it has started negotiations to acquire Polish retail chain Emperia. According to the company, the investment would allow the group to further expand in Poland, where it is already present with the Aldik banner. Petras Jašinskas, chairman of the board at Maxima Grupe, said: “Expansion in Poland by acquiring operating retail chain is a logical and …

7-Eleven, the global convenience store chain, has announced the launch of its first private label cosmetics brand under the name Simply Me Beauty. Promising “cosmetic convenience”, the new brand range is described as “an affordable, fashion-forward line of makeup” targeting millennial women. According to 7-Eleven, the new products were “created for busy millennial-aged women looking for their makeup and accessory must-haves while taking care of business, family and themselves” and are …

Global retailer Spar is set to expand its geographic footprint with the opening of its first store in Pakistan. The firm’s foray into the country is being conducted in partnership with Burque Group, described as one of Pakistan’s largest sales management and distribution companies in the FMCG sector. The first outlet is being opened in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city, and will expand Spar’s footprint to 46 countries. Commenting on the move, SPAR International …

US retail giant Walmart has announced the launch of a new Italian food range, introduced under the Sam’s Choice Italia brand name. According to Walmart, the range was developed in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency and features 40 products, including ready meals, bagged pastas, pesto and pasta sauces, canned tomatoes, balsamic vinegar and frozen pizzas. Jack Pestello, senior vice president, Private Brands at Walmart said: “Teaming up with the …

UK retailer Tesco has announced the launch of a new range of ecologically-certified household products under the label Tesco Eco Active. According to a press release from the retailer, the launch responds to consumer demand for more environmentally-friendly products, which is at an all-time high in the UK. Tesco’s household goods product developer Sanjeev Kaushal said: “Customers tells us that they want to buy eco-cleaning products but they must be …

Walmart Brasil, the Brazilian arm of the world-leading grocery retailer, has announced the opening of a new store concept in Brazil called Walmart Supermercado (‘Supermarket’). According to a press release from the retailer, the initiative is part of an investment of R$500 million ($152 million), in which the new concept will be adopted by 120 stores that are currently under the banners Bompreco, Mercadorama and Nacional. The new concept is …

Dutch pharmacy chain Kruidvat, owned by Asian conglomerate AS Watson, has launched a new city store concept in Antwerp, Belgium. According to Retail Detail, the new Kruidvat In De Stad (‘Kruidvat In The City’) concept is designed for city centre locations, offering more shelf space for beauty products, on-the-go snacks and weekly offers, alongside the retailer’s traditional range. Large screens, modern designs and “innovative” product presentation are described as being …

US retail and wholesale firm Supervalu has reached a merger agreement to acquire food retail distribution company Associated Grocers of Florida, for the sum of $180 million. According to Progressive Grocer, the deal will enable Supervalu to expand to new parts of Florida and leverage Associated Grocers of Florida’s large customer base in South Florida, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Asia. Associated Grocers of Florida operates two distribution …

Leading Russian food retailer X5 Retail Group has announced plans to sell its Perekrestok Express stores in Moscow and refocus on its other three major store formats. According to the retailer, the smaller format convenience stores will be divested as the company seeks to concentrate its efforts on its Pyaterochka proximity stores, Perekrestok supermarkets and Karusel hypermarkets. Igor Shekhterman, X5 Retail Group CEO, said: “Convenience stores like those that Perekrestok …

Dutch retailer Jumbo is expanding its product offer in the vegetarian and vegan space with the launch of a new line of private label products under the brand name Veggie Chef. Targeted at the growing proportion of consumers looking for meat alternative products, the new line features a total of 21 vegetarian and 19 vegan products, taking Jumbo’s dedicated meat-free product range to 86 items. The product range includes an …

Swiss retailer Migros has introduced a new line of organic private label baby food under the Mibebe brand name. The new line is targeted at babies up to 1 year of age and comprises 27 products that are said to be made with natural and high-quality ingredients and no added sugar. The Mibabe range includes juices, snacks and desserts that are produced in Switzerland, and other products such as jars …

Carrefour Italia, the Italian arm of the French retail group has announced the launch of a new brand to highlight sustainable practices and home-grown produce. According to the retailer, the new Filiera Qualita brand will be added to products from 4,700 suppliers demonstrating high ethical standards, including avoidance of antibiotics, animal welfare, support for biodiversity and environmentally-friendly practices . The brand range is also said to support local and smaller …

Casino, the French retail giant, is launching a new convenience stores concept focusing on organic, gourmet and locally sourced products. Launched under the Franprix Noe banner, the new concept is already available through two stores recently opened in Paris that are said to be aimed at meeting the needs of urban consumers. Casino said that the new stores offered a range of organic products, cheese and meat counters, freshly-baked products, …

Jet.com, the e-commerce retailer acquired by retail giant Walmart in 2016, is to launch a line of own brand grocery products under the name Uniquely J, according to a report in the New York Post. The move comes as e-commerce rival Amazon steps up its activities in the FMCG space, including launching its own line of private label grocery products in 2016, and most recently acquiring the retail chain Whole Foods Market in …

Indian hypermarket chain Big Bazaar, owned by retail conglomerate Future Group, has unveiled plans to open 100 new stores across India in the next 12 months. The announcement came as Big Bazaar inaugurated a new store in the P&M Hi-Tech City Centre Mall in Bistupur, which at 32,989 sq ft will be the chain’s second largest location in the city. The company owns eight stores in Jharkhand including two in …

Sir Plus, a German start-up firm, has announced the opening of its first retail store dedicated to the sale of ‘surplus’ food from manufacturers and distributors. Located in the Charlottenburg area of Berlin, the new store is set to market a range of fruit, vegetables, drinks and other groceries at “a significant saving compared to the usual prices found in supermarkets”, the company claimed in a statement. The company said its …

South African retailer Checkers, part of the Shoprite group, has expanded its Oh My Goodness! private label range, introducing new ‘healthier’ snack options for children. The new products, developed by celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay and his daughter Matilda, are claimed to be “packed with all of the goodness and none of the junk”. The new products include bakery snacks such as mini rice cakes priced at 9.99 ZAR ($0.78), available …

Co-operative, the UK retail group, has entered into exclusive talks to acquire the convenience store chain Nisa, according to a BBC report. “We can confirm that we’ve entered into a period of exclusivity with Nisa, which will provide the opportunity for us to carry out more detailed due diligence in the coming weeks”, a Co-operative spokesman is quoted as saying. The ethically-oriented firm is reported to have superseded rival Sainsbury …

Multinational retailer Walmart has announced that it is to launch a service enabling consumers to order products via Google Express, technology giant Google’s e-commerce platform. Writing in the New York Times, Marc Lore, Walmart US president & CEO of e-commerce, said the firm would be working with Google to offer hundreds of thousands of items via Google Assistant, a service that permits ordering use voice recognition technology. “Our new voice shopping …

Belgian retailer Delhaize has launched a range of ‘raw’ cakes as part of its private label range. Delhaize Raw Cakes are described as unprocessed, uncooked and made of natural ingredients such as vegetables, fruits, cereal and raw nuts. The products are said to be suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as well as to be free from refined sugars, lactose, gluten and additives. Available in the varieties Hey Chocolate Lover! (Chocolate & Caramel) , Hey …

Polish retailer Eurocash Group, the largest wholesale FMCG distributor in the country, has sign a letter of intent to acquire the supermarket chain Mila, which has a network of about 190 stores. According to sources, Eurocash is looking to acquire a 100% stake in the retailer’s business and has been granted exclusive talks to complete the transaction by 8th September. Mila currently has 188 supermarkets in Poland. In 2016 the retailer …

Supermarket chain Continente, part of Portuguese retail and telecoms conglomerate Sonae, has introduced a new range of jams and chutney that are described as being made from fruit and vegetables nearing the end of their sell-by date. According to an article in Distribuicao Hoje, the move is designed to tackle the issue of produce going to waste despite still being good to eat; fresh deliveries of fruit and vegetables lower the value …

Russian retailer O’Key Group has announced a partnership agreement with Familia, a leading ‘off-price’ retailer. According to O’Key Group, as part of the strategic agreement, Familia will open two stores in its hypermarkets in Ekaterinburg and Tyumen by the end of 2017. The agreement is described as being part of a strategic initiative to create a ‘compact hypermarket’, enhancing efficiency by forming partnerships to lease space to partners without lowering the …

French retail giant Carrefour is introducing new supermarket and convenience store formats in Italy under the names Carrefour Market Attrazione 2.0 (‘Attraction 2.0’) and Carrefour Express 3 Minuti (‘3 Minutes’). According to European Supermarket Magazine, Carrefour Attrazione 2.0 is 2,500 sq m in size. Located in Promezia (Lagio), it is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and is describing as carrying over 16,000 lines. The store is also …

Finnish department store chain Stockmann Group has announced the sale of delicatessen grocery stores to retailer S Group. According to a statement by Stockmannn Group, S Group plans to develop the delicatessen stores into “European top-level flagship stores”. The deal, which is subject to approval by the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority, will see employees of Stockmann’s stores transferred to S Group and the stores remaining within Stockmann department stores. …

US retail and wholesale firm Supervalu has completed the acquisition of wholesale grocery cooperative Unified Grocers for $390 million. The deal is comprised of $114 million in cash and $276 million for outstanding net debt. Supervalu has annual sales of about $13 billion, while Unified Grocers annual sales are approximately $3.8 billion. Mark Gross, president and chief executive officer of Supervalu commented: “The completion of this transaction is a significant step forward …

Spanish retailer Dia is planning to expand in Brazil and Argentina. According to Reuters Brasil, the group announced that it plans to open 1,500 new stores in Brazil and 1,100 in Argentina by 2020, as a result of strong organic growth in Latin America. Currently, Dia has 1,000 stores in Brazil and more than 7,000 stores worldwide. It is present in Portugal and China as well as Spain, Argentina and …

Portuguese retailer Jeronimo Martins has announced plans to expand by opening its 16th distribution centre in Poland as well as opening new stores in the country. The new distribution centre for the group’s supermarket chain Biedronka is expected to open in Q3 2017 and to be located in the western region of Poland. According to sources, it will cover 28,000 sq m and it will create 250 jobs. The retailer also …

US e-commerce giant Amazon has agreed to acquire the retailer Whole Foods Market for $13.7 billion including net debt. The acqusition is the latest in a series of significant moves by Amazon into FMCG retailing, including the opening of its first bricks-and-mortar grocery store in December of last year. According to Food Business News, the stores acquired by Amazon will continue to operate under the Whole Foods Market brand, maintaining …

Danish retailer Dansk Supermarked has reached an agreement to acquire 81 stores from competitor retailer Dagrofa. According to European Supermarket News, Dansk Supermarked aims to convert more than half the acquired stores into Netto outlets, whilst leases on the other stores are set to be offloaded to other retailers. Following the transaction, Dagrofa is set to focus its efforts on its Meny, Spar, Min Kobmand and Let-Kob banners, as well …

German discount retailer giant Aldi has announced that it is going to close 32 stores in Denmark, after the retailer made a loss for the second consecutive year, according to a report in ESM. According to sources, the reason behind the decision was a reported loss of 246 million DKK ($37.1 million) in 2016, which was still 54 million DKK ($81.6 million) more than the previous year. According to Thomas …

Dutch retailer Jumbo has announced the opening of Foodmarket City, a convenience store with a new and ‘unique’ concept, according to a report in ESM. Foodmarket City is said to feature a combination of elements from Jumbo stores, food markets as well as freshly prepared food, in collaboration with restaurant chain La Place. Food such as bread, sandwiches, pizza, sushi, soups and juices will be produced in store, so customers …

Dutch multinational retailer Spar has announced a new partnership in China with Yunnan Anning Jinfang Commercial Group (Jinfang), with plans to open 32 new stores in the country. The new partner, Jinfang, operates in the retail sector in China and will invest in converting 32 of its stores into the Spar brand in the coming months. With the agreement, the companies will be able to combine Spar’s global retail expertise …

Coop, the leading Swiss grocery retailer, is set to launch a new retail outlet offering vegetarian friendly products, according to a report in 20 Minuten. Specific details of the new concept are said to remain closely guarded, but 20 Minuten reports that the store is set to be named Karma and will focus on products that target vegetarians and flexitarians, much like the namesake private label line that Coop launched …

US based retail giant Walmart has announced a one-year agreement with the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) to launch a new range of imported products from Italy under a new private label. According to European Supermarket Magazine (ESM), the new agreement will see the retailer will buy 16% more food and wine products from Italy per year, which means that exports from Italy to the USA will increase. Michele Scannaini, president …

Japanese food manufacturer Ajinomoto has debuted in France, as it seeks to initiate an expansion into Europe. A line of frozen ready meals is being listed by French multinational retailer Carrefour “to establish a sales channel in France and offer a full product lineup”, according to the manufacturer. Eight varieties of frozen Japanese foods including Gyoza (Dumplings) and Karaage (Fried Chicken) were launched in April priced at between €3.95 ($4.32) and …

French grocery chain Monoprix, owned by the Casino Group, is testing a ‘cash-free’ store in Clichy in a concept said to be inspired by the American online retailer Amazon. According to sources, the new store is internally called Monop’Go and is located near to Monoprix’s head office. To use the store, consumers will reportedly first need to download an app on their smartphone. To buy the items, they are said …

Portuguese retail and telecoms conglomerate Sonae has announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire organic supermarket chain Brio. Brio is now 100% owned by Sonae through an acquisition agreement concluded between Sonae MC and The Edge Group, which has owned the chain since 2010. Brio operates six stores across Lisbon, each store entirely focused in organic food. Luís Moutinho, CEO of Sonae MC said: “This expansion of Sonae …

Dutch based retailer Spar has become the third largest grocery retailer of Croatia, after Spar Croatia acquired 62 Billa stores in the country. According to Spar Croatia’s board president Helmut Frenzl, the transition will be completed by the end of the year, whilst the rebranding of stores will take effect by this summer. The rebranding of the stores will represent an investment of €12 million ($12.7 million) for the retailer, …

Retail giant Auchan has launched a new convenience store brand in Lisbon called My Auchan, according to a report in HiperSuper. The move is the result of a €6 million ($6.4 million) investment, and six of the stores are expected to open by the end of the year, Among the characteristics of the new “ultra local” stores are a differentiated product range, a focus on convenience and price and digitized services, according …

German discount retail giant Aldi Sud has launched a promotional campaign called Mein Fan-Pudding, asking customers to design their ultimate dessert topping to be rolled out later this year in their stores. Shoppers can upload their designs through the Aldi Sud Facebook page from now until 5th April. The one with most votes will then be produced and launched as a new product with name of the creator during September …

Leading Russian food retailer has posted a 13.07% increase in annual revenue to 1.07 trillion RUB ($19.0 billion), according to recently published full year results . The retailer’s gross profit increased to 295.76 billion RUB ($5.25 billion), with its margin standing at 27.52%, according to a report in European Supermarket Magazine. The retailer is said to have added a total of 1,970 stores to its portfolio during 2015, where 927 were convenience stores, 18 …

German retailer Aldi Sud has shown an interest in acquiring Italian discounter Tuodi, which has reportedly been suffering financial problems since 2013 and is now up for sale, according to a report in Milano Finanza. Tuodi is said to have announced itsdecision to sell the business after failing to recover from losses of €33.7 million ($36.4 million) in 2013 and €47.8 million ($51.6 million) in 2014. Aldi is said to be …

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has launched a ‘Delicious Nutritious’ line of ready meals, developed in partnership with celebrity fitness trainer Michelle Bridges. According to Australian Food News, the line is targeted at consumers who are looking for healthy and quick meals. Michelle Bridges, who is said to have worked closely with the retailer to create the range, commented: “I’m pleased to continue my mission to help busy Australians eat well …

French retail giant Carrefour has announced plans to almost double the number of Carrefour Express stores it operates in Brazil, according to an article in Giro News. The retailer currently has 75 stores operating under the Carrefour Express banner in Brazil and plans to open 70 more in 2017, Carrefour CEO Georges Plassat is reported as saying. The move comes as hypermarket sales have fallen as a share of Carrefour’s overall …

Spanish retailers Dia Group and Eroski Group have signed an agreement designed to maximise the quality and price of their private label offering. The companies said that the new agreement, based on a peer-to-peer relationship, would allow them to improve the competitiveness of their private label products and also acquire materials and supplies needed for the business. Fresh products, oil, eggs and milk are excluded from the agreement. In a …

Auchan, the French grocery retailer, is partnering with parcel collection point firm Packcity to install click and collect lockers at around a dozen of its stores in France, according to an article in LSA. The rollout of the scheme follows an initial trial at two supermarkets and is an automated pick up system designed to complement Auchan’s existing ‘parcel collection’ scheme Auchan Point Retrait Libre Service. Reportedly, the lockers are …

UK retailer Asda has introduced a premium sparkling wine called Progrigio, marketed as a more affordable alternative to prosecco. Progrigio is described as “Crisp, fresh and delicately floral, with fruity aromas balanced by its dry profile that offers a hint of sweetness at the finish”.” Made from a blend of Italian grapes called Glera – which are also used to make prosecco – and Italian Pinot Grigio wine, the new wine …

French retail giant Carrefour has announced the launch of the Simply You Box, providing all the ingredients for specific recipes, in 85 stores in Belgium. According to Gondola, the official launch comes after a successful trial period in a dozen stores that started in October 2016. Due to the project’s reported success, it rapidly expanded to 60 stores including all 45 of the retailer’s Belgian hypermarkets, . Each week, nine …

Discount retailer Lidl is piloting a range of vegetable products packaged and promoted to appeal to children, encouraging them to eat more greens. The new fun size range, being launched in the UK, includes five varieties with names and packaging designs that aim to engage with a younger audience through association with the shape of the product: Mini Broccoli Trees (priced at £ 1.09 / $1.34), Cauliflower Clouds (£1.25 / $1.53), …

Russian retailer Lenta has announced plans to open 80 new stores in 2017 and to explore entry into new regions of the country, including Siberia. According to European Supermarket Magazine, the retailer plans to focus on the supermarket format, as 50 of the new openings are set to be supermarkets and the other 30 hypermarkets. Shortly after unveiling its expansion plans, Lenta announced the opening of its first hypermarket in …

Lidl, the German retail chain, is set to make its debut in the USA this summer and open up to 100 stores by the end of the year, according to a Reuters report. The move is described by Reuters as being ahead of schedule, since it was previously thought that Lidl would not open its first outlet until late 2017 or early 2018, despite being in the middle of a …

German discount retailer Aldi is taking further steps towards enter the Italian market with the creation of a company to manage property for its planned stores the country, according to trade reports. News of the launch of Aldi Immobiliare Srl follows reports in 2015 that the company was looking to establish a presence in the Italian market. The headquarters for the Italian push is said to be the northern city …

Plus, the Netherlands-based supermarket chain, is set to double its lineup of organic products under the Plus Bio+ brand, according to an article in Levensmiddelenkrant. Following the recent launch of products such as canned vegetables, muesli and pasta as new additions to the organic range, the Dutch retailer is also set to introduce products such as Plus Bio+ coconut oil and spelt pasta in 2017, the report says. The move is …

Rewe, the German supermarket chain, is set to launch a grocery delivery service based on a monthly subscription free, according to a report in Lebensmittelzeitung. The move follows the trial of a similar offering by the retailer in Austria, and comes as US e-commerce giant Amazon is reported to be entering the German market with its own subscription model grocery service, Amazon Fresh. Prices for Rewe’s new ‘free’ (on demand) delivery …

Rossmann, the German personal and household care retailer, has announced plans to open a further 250 stores in 2017 with an investment of around €225 million ($235 million). The plans foresee 110 new locations for the German market, where Rossmann’s network of shops stood at 2,055 as of the end of 2016, figures from the company reveal. Outside Germany, Rossmann now operates 1,572 stores in a number of European countries, predominantly …

Discount retailer Lidl is working on a new convenience format known as Express, according to an article in ESM quoting Lebensmittel Zeitung. The concept is reportedly being test marketed in Berlin, combining online ordering with Lidl’s traditional bricks-and-mortar retailing. According to the report, Lidl is currently working on the web service to support the new service, which would allow consumers to place an order online and then benefit from a fast checkout in store. …

Swedish retail and wholesale food business Axfood is to expand into the online shopping sector with the $59.6 million acquisition of Mat.se, Operated by Matse Holdings, Mat.se is an online supermarket offering bakery products, flowers, beverages, and other grocery items. The company also offers a food delivery service under its Cold Cargo brand as well as cooking and recipe sites under the Kokaihop and Spisa names. Axfood is a food …

E-commerce Amazon giant has made its first concrete steps into bricks-and-mortar retailing with the opening of a new store in Seattle, WA, USA under the name Amazon Go. The concept allows customers to pick and choose their groceries from the store but, unlike a typical supermarket, dispenses with the traditional checkout procedure. Instead, the technology uses sensors that are said to track customers as they move through the store and …

Spar, the world’s largest food retail voluntary chain, has announced its entry into the Thai market. The company has formed a retail partnership with Bangchak Retail Company (BRC) for a 300 store venture, representing an investment of €74 million ($78 million) over the next five years. According to a company press release, BCR will open seven new convenience and neighbourhood stores in 2016 and 50 to 80 stores each year …

German discount retailer Aldi has announced plans to expand into China through online channels, according to an article in Retail Week. The company will reportedly start off by selling a selected range of products to Chinese consumers online as soon as mid 2017, although it is not said to have plans to invest in bricks-and-mortar stores as of yet. Aldi is said to be planning to market products that are, …

Picard, the French frozen food retailer, has made a definitive step into the Far East market with the opening of its first store in Japan, according to a report in Les Echos. Described as being located in an upmarket area of Tokyo, the new store has been launched in partnership with Japanese retail group Aeon, via a subsidiary called Aeon Saveur, and is reportedly a first step in a planned …

Marks & Spencer, the UK grocery and clothing retailer, is planning to open 200 new Simply Food stores in the next five years, according to a report in Off Licence News. The move comes as the firm is reportedly planning on scaling back its clothing & homeware divisions in order to focus more heavily on its Simply Food stores. The retailer is said to to be looking to close 30 …

Spanish supermarket chain El Corte Ingles has introduced a new service that delivers online orders within the space of just one hour, according to a report in HiperSuper. According to the trade journal, the new service, called Click & Now, was introduced on 7th November and enables customers to choose from a selection of 20,000 items. Click & Now is being launched for one million consumers in Lisbon, Porto and …

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has introduced a new range of private label products with names that exclude Woolworths branding, News Limited reports. According to the article, the supermarket claims that the line – which includes new brands such as Smitten and Apollo pet food, Chevron batteries and Little Ones nappies, as well as the removal of Woolworths and Homebrand branding from other products – was developed in response to insights …

The Spanish division of German retail firm Lidl is “working on” an e-commerce initiative that could see fresh produce available to order in the country online, according to an article in Efeagro. Reporting on a recent press event, Efeagro quotes Michael Aranda, director general of Lidl Spain, as saying: “We don’t have a specific date yet, but we are working on it [an online service] seriously. We are a company of …

Metro, a food and pharmaceuticals distributor in the Canadian provinces of Quebec and Ontario, has launched a platform that allows customers to do their grocery shopping online. Starting at the end of October, the new service is available to Metro consumers in the Quebec area, with orders placed online able to be picked up at three stores in Montreal and Laval and, in Montreal’s east end, also eligible for delivery. …

Lidl, the German retail giant that is part of the Schwarz Group, is earmarking parts of the southern USA for its initial wave of stores in North America, according to a report in the Houston Business Journal. In addition to the eastern US, where Lidl has centred its planned foray into the US market, the discounter is now exploring the option of opening locations in the state of Texas although has not yet …

Carrefour, the French retail giant, has announced that it is debuting a new supermarket banner in Belgium with a focus on “fresh produce, simplicity and speed”. Carrefour Easy will target customers doing day-to-day shopping, the retailer said, and would have the attraction of local promotions that will vary each day. In terms of size, Gondola reports that Carrefour Easy will sit somewhere between the supermarket’s existing Market format (for customers …

Schwarz Group, the German retail giant behind the Lidl and Kaufland brands, is considering opening stores under the Kaufland brand in Australia, according to an article in N-tv.de. The supermarket group is currently conducting a feasibility study, “only after which a decision on a possible entry into the market will be made”, N-tv.de reports, quoting the firm. Previous German media reports had suggested that the first Kaufland stores might open in …

Sainsbury’s, the UK supermarket chain, has rolled out what it describes as a on-demand, one hour delivery service app called Chop Chop, with goods delivered by bicycle. The Chop Chop app was initially made available to the Wandsworth area in London for a trial period, but now the retailer is looking to expand the service by adding 35,699 new postcodes in the capital. The new app allows customers to order …

E-commerce giant Amazon is looking to push further into the FMCG space by opening physical stores to sell grocery products, according to a report in the Wall St Journal. Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, the news outlet reports that, under the plans, groceries such as fresh produce, milk, meat and other perishable goods would be available to purchase from these bricks and mortar stores, while ambient goods would be available …

Kaufland, one of Germany’s leading supermarket chains, has announced its entry into the world of e-commerce. From 6th October, consumers will be able to select from a wide range of products at www.kaufland.de “at the same attractive prices as in our stores”, the company said in a statement. Initially restricted to the Berlin area, although with a wider rollout planned, Kaufland’s online shopping service will allow “goods ordered to be …

German discount chain Aldi has announced that it will be investing a sum of £300 million ($388 million) in its UK store network. The first aim of the investment is to refurbish current stores by adding ‘food-to-go’ areas, increasing baby & toddler, wines and spirits range, as well as adding new colours, lighting and signage. The retailer also plans to use the investment to increase its store count. The firm …

German supermarket chain Rewe has announced that it is launching a new private label brand in support of its recently-established chain of convenience stores. Named Rewe To Go – the same as the stores themselves – the new brand line up is said to offer a diverse range of products focused on on-the-go consumption. For breakfast time, the German retailer is offering “delicious mueslis, fruity smoothies and freshly cut fruit”. …

Canada’s biggest convenience store company Couche-Tard has acquired rival chain CST Brands Inc. for $4.4 billion, according to a report in the Financial Post. The acquisition, which is the fourth secured by the Canadian company this year, represents the largest in its history and aims to strengthen the firm’s presence in Texas, USA and eastern Canada. Commenting on the acquisition, Couche-Tard CEO Brian Hannasch said: “With this transaction we would strategically strengthen our …

The Portuguese based supermarket group Jeronimo Martins, through its Biedronka supermarket banner in Poland, has established a factory in the country that will manufacture private label soup products, according to an article in European Supermarket Magazine. The result of an initial investment of $7.8 million, the new factory, which is to be located in Parzniewo near the Polish capital Warsaw, close to a previously opened Biedronka superstore. According to reports, …

Marya Day Agro Foods, a producer, distributor and exporter in the food, personal care and household industries in India, has opened its first four retail stores in the country since June 2016 and plans to open 100 more by the end of next year, according to a report in Progressive Grocer India. Marya Day has opened stores in Aligarh and Bareilly in quick succession after making its debut in June …

Discount retailer Lidl is seeking to tap into a collective nostalgia with the launch of a “retro week” in Portugal that will see historic brands and ‘vintage’ packaging go on sale in its stores for a limited period. According to HiperSuper, products to be made available include hand-wrapped Ach. Brito soaps, flavoured Predilecta Flour, Capri Sonne juices, and Couto medicinal toothpaste. The initiative appears to have been inspired by a …

Australian supermarket chain Coles has launched a new chain of convenience stores branded as Big Yum at Little Coles, complementing its existing Coles Express banner, according to an article in the Australian. The new Coles stores are said to offer a range of products designed for immediate consumption, such as take-out coffee and cold drinks, in addition to bakery goods such as croissants, as well as a “healthier” product range …

Walmart – the world’s largest grocery retailer – is looking to reinvigorate its online sales through the acquisition of e-commerce start-up Jet.com, according to a report in Tech Crunch. Quoting “a source with direct knowledge of the deal”, Tech Crunch reports that Walmart is set to pay up to $3 billion for the online retail specialist, which began operating last year. Based in the US, Jet.com offers a broad range of …

Dollar General, the US-based discount retail chain, has announced that it has acquired and plans to reopen dozens of stores previously owned by multinational retail giant Wal-Mart. The low-cost supermarket group said it had acquired 41 of 102 Wal-Mart Express stores closed by its larger rival in January, and plans to relocate 40 of its existing stores into these slightly larger locations by October. Dollar General said that consumers would …

Plus, the Dutch supermarket chain, has launched a same-day delivery service under the name Plus Express. According to Plus, the service is simple to use, with consumers placing their order online as normal via plus.nl. Providing the order is placed before 4pm, they can then select a delivery slot for the same day. There is said to be a minimum two-hour period between order and delivery, such that orders placed …

Les Mousquetaires, the French retail group that operates stores under banners such as Intermarche, Bricomarche and Netto, is set to expand its network in Portugal, according to an article in European Supermarket Magazine. The supermarket chain, which already has 241 supermarkets and a further 65 other stores in the country, is reported to have ambitions to expand its network to almost 400 outlets by 2020. According to European Supermarket Magazine, …

Spanish supermarket chain Mercadona has announced its intention to move forward with its plan for global expansion by entering the Portuguese market. The company’s goal is to open the first four stores in the country by 2019. Mercadona estimates that the initial investment will be in the order €25 million ($27 million) and the expansion is expected to create about 200 jobs in its first stage. The company said initial …

Pao de Acucar, Brazil’s leading supermarket chain and part of the French Casino group, has started selling a number of items in bulk with the reported aim of encouraging the reuse of packaging, according to an article in Giro News. Dubbed “Reusing #tobehappy’, the project will allow consumers to fill their own containers (pots, cans, cartons or any other suitable packaging) brought from home, or else to purchase resusable glass …

Walmart, the leading supermarket chain in the US, and JD.com, China’s largest e-commerce company by revenue, have announced the formation of a strategic alliance “to better serve consumers across China through a powerful combination of e-commerce and retail”. The agreement between the companies includes a wide range of business initiatives, covering both online and offline retail. For Walmart, the alliance greatly expands its opportunity in China e-commerce and provides its stores …

Aldi, the discount retail chain, has opened new outlets in Perth, the first four of 70 planned supermarkets for western Australia, according to a report in Inside Retail. Aldi’s Australian website lists a total of four stores now open in the Western Australia region, located in Belmont, Kwinana, Lakeside Joondalup and Mirrabooka Square. A further 13 future store locations are also detailed on the company webpage. Just six weeks prior to …

A new online supermarket has been launched in Portugal specialising in goods that are close to, or in some cases beyond, their expiry date. Named GoodAfter, the new e-retailer is “dedicated to selling products close to or beyond their ‘best before’ date, and end of line stock”. According to the store website, new promotions are offered daily and orders placed before 1pm will be fulfilled the next day. Orders over €49 ($55) are …

US retail giant Walmart is said to have partnered with Uber Technologies and Lyft to test a new grocery delivery service, potentially in a bid to compete with Amazon, according to US media reports. Sources state that Walmart has also started testing a similar service in Miami for its warehouse chain Sam’s Club, partnering with Deliv which offers same-day deliveries for Kohl’s, Macy’s and other retailers. Under the new pilot programme, …

Whole Foods Market, the US natural grocery retailer, has opened the first of its 365 branded stores in the Silver Lake section of Los Angeles, California, according to a report in Supermarket News. First mooted in May of last year, the Whole Foods Market 365 brand offers “food with good values, at a good value”, according to a website banner. “We believe that good choices one-up more choices. The result? Just …

Retail giants El Corte Ingles and Tesco have embarked on an initiative that will see iconic UK products from the Tesco brand range go on sale in El Corte Ingles stores in Spain, with El Corte Ingles products travelling in the opposite direction, according to reports in European Supermarket Magazine. El Corte Ingles products are set to appear on shelves across the UK following a six-month test phase that initially …

Pick N Pay, South Africa’s number two grocery chain, has unveiled plans to expand its geographical footprint with the the opening of its first stores in Nigeria. Announcing the move alongside its 2016 financial statements, the retailer said that a key part of its strategy was “to establish a second engine of growth in markets in the rest of Africa”, adding that it had “examined the opportunity in Nigeria in detail, given the opportunity …

Retail group Metro is to take a majority stake in ethical grocery retailer Emmas Enkel, according to an ESM article quoting Lebensmittel Zeitung. The Germany-based multinational wholesaler is said to be upping its stake in Emmas Enkel from 15% to 93%, having first invested in the Dusseldorf-based firm at the end 2014. Emmas Enkel operates both e-commerce and bricks and mortar stores, the latter located in major German cities such as Cologne, …

German supermarket chain Aldi Nord has launched a new line of fresh lunch meals that rotates on a daily basis, according to an article in the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung. Launched with the slogan “daily choice in the fresh aisles”, Aldi’s ‘dish of the day’ concept will allow consumers to choose from more than 40 varieties in total, but only two on any given day. Speaking to the Abendblatt, Aldi said …

Supermarket chain Waitrose is set to become the first major chain in the UK to open a retail outlet where cash payments will not be accepted. The new outlet in Sky’s flagship head office building at its campus in Osterley will be 1,400 square feet in size and is set to be complete by the summer. Sky employees will only be able to pay by card or their mobile devices …

Whole Foods Market, the US retail chain specialized in natural and organic products, has an announced an expansion in the haircare sector with the launch of a line of “plant-based, salon-quality” shampoos, conditioners and styling products. Based around active ingredients such as pea, quinoa and baobab proteins, argan oil and shea butter, the lines features three shampoos and conditioners – Moisturizing, Volumizing and Color Preserve – as well as a …

UK supermarket and convenience store chain The Co-operative plans has announced plans to open up to 100 new stores in in 2016, according to a report in Talking Retail. The retailer is said to have already spent more than £8 million ($11 million) on 12 new store openings in areas such as Blackpool, Glasgow, Newhaven and North London since the start of 2016. Commenting on the plans, Co-operative head of …

UK supermarket chain Waitrose has announced the launch of a new private label brand designed to unite existing premium ranges under one name. Launched online and in store from April, Waitrose 1 “will offer customers the very best of Waitrose with one simple yet distinctive brand”, the company said. The new name will bring together existing premium ranges including Seriously From Waitrose, Menu From Waitrose and From Waitrose and will incorporate …

Jeronimo Martins, the Portuguese supermarket group, has announced the investment of €500 million ($560 million) in Colombia, where it expects to open 1,000 stores by 2020. According to a report in Economico, Jeronimo Martins chairman Pedro Soares dos Santos, speaking at a gathering of journalists, said as a “source of innovation”, Colombia was crucial to the group since the demographic was younger than in the country than in the firm’s …

The German supermarket chain Rewe is set to open a new line of convenience stores under the Rewe To Go name, to be located at Aral petrol stations. According to an article in Die Welt, the chain will comprise around 1,000 stores stocking a wider range of products than most petrol station stores. The product range is set to include breakfast cereal, spreads, pasta, sauces, canned food, spices and vegetable …

Auchan, one of the principal French supermarket chains, has announced the launch of a service called Auchan Frais (‘Fresh’), which allows customers to order fresh products such as meat and cheese online and then arrange to collect them at their local store. Launched on the 7th March in France, Auchan Frais offers 300 lines of selected meat, cheese, fish, bakery and pastry products, in addition to cheese and meats in …

Carrefour, the world’s second largest grocery retailer, is seeking to enter the Israeli market through an investment in the Victory supermarket chain, according to a report in Bloomberg. Talks about a potential investment, which were reportedly confirmed by the Israeli firm following media speculation, come as Victory itself is planning to submit a bid for Alon Blue Square’s troubled Mega Supermarket chain in order to strengthen its presence in the near …

Leading e-retailer Amazon has signed a deal with supermarket chain Morrisons that will enable it to begin selling fresh and frozen food in the UK for the first time, according to reports from the Guardian and the BBC. The new deal will see ambient, fresh and frozen products available to order on both Amazon Prime Now and Amazon Pantry over the coming months. In 2015, in what was then its …

Australian supermarket chain Woolworths has recently announced the launch of an extension to its click & collect service using local transport hubs, to be trialled at Sydney’s Bondi Junction train station. According to a report in InsideFMCG, the 12 month click & collect initiative will allow customers to place an online order with the retailer before 11am and then collect their purchases from specially designed lockers later in the day. Woolworths …

EasyGroup, the firm behind the EasyJet airline company, has announced the opening of a pilot discount grocery store in London, UK, according to a report in Talking Retail. Opening in London Park Royal, EasyFoodstore will offer a “limited and basic range of items at rock-bottom prices” according to a company spokesperson, with the aim of tapping into the succesful discount concept of German chains Aldi and Lidl. During its first …

Wal-Mart, the world’s leading grocery retail chain, has announced that it is to end its smaller format operations and will look to close 269 stores globally, including 154 in the USA. According to Business News Network, the confirmation of store closures comes three months after Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon revealed proposals to review Wal-Mart’s global operations and to close stores that were deemed to be underperforming. Mr McMillon commented …

German discount retailer Aldi has made its first foray into e-commerce in the UK with an online store selling wines by the case, according to a report in the Independent. The firm is said to be investing £35 million ($49 million) in the venture, which will allow consumers to pick from a choice of 90 wines, including rose and sparkling . Consumers will be able to choose from a case of …

Dutch retailer Ahold and the Belgian retail chain Delhaize have announced their intention to combine into a single company with the filing of joint merger proposal on the 15th January 2016. The two companies originally announced their merger plans in June 2015, stating that their intention was that of “creating an international retailer with a portfolio of strong, trusted local brands and more than 375,000 associates serving more than 50 …

The Chinese arm of FMCG multinational Nestle has signed an e-commerce partnership with web portal Alibaba that will see Nestle products made available online for a Chinese audience, according to a report in New Food Magazine. The purpose of the partnership is to expand Nestle’s online sales through the introduction of new products to internet consumers, along with the strengthening of the company’s brand image in China. The project follows …

Supermarket chain Auchan is set to make an investment of €195 million ($210 million) in 2016 to develop its presence in Russia, according to a report in International Supermarket News. According to the news agency report, the bulk of the investment is set to be focused on the development of a distribution network, which would enable the retailer to open 10 new Auchan City stores and 40 stores under the …

In a bid to improve its share price and reassure investors, French retail group Casino has embarked on a debt reduction plan of over €2 billion ($2.18 billion), according to reports in Retail Detail and Lineaires. The plan will predominantly be achieved through international real estate and disposing of the company’s stores in Vietnam, sources say. Casino turns over €600 million ($655 million) in the country –2.5% of its global …

French retail chain Carrefour is looking to modernise its hypermarket concept in Belgium with a new-look store that aims to offer a ‘shop within a shop’ experience. According to a report in Gondola, the new store at Mons Les Grands Pres offers a range of products organized in individually-styled ‘bakeries’, ‘wine cellars’ and similar ‘mini shops’, with trails designed to guide the consumer from one section to another. In addition, …

Walmart, the USA’s leading grocery retailer, has unveiled its own mobile payment called Walmart Pay in a bid to compete with tech players such as Apple and Google. Walmart Pay is a payment system adapted to Walmart’s iOS and Android mobile apps and is promoted as “a fast, easy and secure way for customers to pay with their smartphones in Walmart stores”. The system allows customers to make purchases at …

Health & beauty retailer Rossmann could be set to open up to 500 new locations in Germany, according to an article in Die Welt, taking the number of stores in the company’s network to as many as 2,000. The new openings would reportedly be mostly in southern Germany, where the retailer does not currently have a significant presence. Rossmann’s closest competitor, DM, has around 1,800 stores at present and generates …

Reuters is reporting that US grocery firm Supervalu is considering an outright sale of its discount Save-A-Lot chain, as opposed to the spin-off mooted in July. Quoting “people familiar with the matter”, the Reuters report noted that Supervalu had received some interest from private equity firms and that it would consider offers for Save-A-Lot once it had registered its intention to spin off the division in 2016. The value of …

Kruidvat, one of the Netherlands’ leading health and beauty chains, has opened its first store in France, according to a report in AD. Located in the northern French city of Lille, the new store is described as a pilot move to evaluate the possibility of further expansion into the country. According to AD, Kruidvat CEO Gerard Breen sees opportunities in a country where currently no major discount high street health …

Supermarket chain Dia has announced a new marketing initiative in Brazil – launched with the hashtag #pfdodia – based around the concept of ‘food trucks’. Food trucks – vehicles fitted out to produce and sell street food – have become increasingly popular in recent years, especially within major cities in North America. Dia’s new ‘food truck’ campaign will see the company offer freshly prepared food made from its own brand …

Discount supermarket chain Lidl is putting in place plans to invest £1.5 billion ($2.3 billion) in continuing expansion in the UK over the next three years, according to reports in The Guardian and Handelsblatt. The firm said it would use the funds to open 40-50 new stores – an increase on the previous 30-40 – as well as to refresh and refurbish up to 150 of its existing outlets to …

According to reports in the Los Angeles Times and Supermarket News, the embattled Fresh & Easy retail chain is to begin closing down its network of stores in the USA. Disclosing in a statement that the chain was undertaking “the process for an organized wind-down”, the company said that it was now looking for a buyer for some or all of its remaining 97 stores. Commenting on the move, Fresh …

Discount retailer Lidl has unveiled a new ‘box’ delivery service in Germany in a bid to compete with Amazon Pantry, according to reports in the German media. The new Vorratsbox service – which roughly translates as ‘box of supplies’ – allows consumers to fill a box with groceries and have it delivered to a specified address within two to three days. Deliveries are carried out “safely and securely” by DHL …

In a move that is aimed at competing with e-commerce services Amazon and Migros’s Galaxus, Swiss supermarket chain Coop is set to launch a new online sales platform in Switzerland next year, according to a report in 20 Minuten. Sources state that Coop, which is working on the new venture in partnership with telecommunications firm Swisscom, would look to sell both food and non-food products via the platform, focusing in …

Retail chains 7-Eleven and Walmart Canada are partnering on a pilot e-commerce pilot project in the Toronto area, according to a report in the Canadian Grocer. Under the scheme, consumers placing orders at www.walmart.ca will be able to have their orders delivered for pickup at one of six 24-hour convenience stores operated by 7-Eleven. The “Grab & Go” project is also said to be an extension of Walmart’s ‘locker service’ …

Several hundred Family Dollar stores – divested as part of the chain’s merger with Dollar Tree – are to be revamped under the banner of Dollar Express, according to a report in Supermarket News, quoting a source at investment banking firm Jefferies. According to the news agency’s source, Dollar Tree would continue to support the stores for two years before the name change came into effect. A total of 330 Family …

Picnic, an m-commerce grocery delivery platform, has been launched in the Netherlands, according to reports in the Dutch media. The first delivery using the service, which is available exclusively through a mobile app, was made in the town of Amersfoort on the 30th September. During a test phase the company has been offering a range that includes 20,000 SKUs and 250 private label products. Goods are delivered using a fleet of …

Saudia Group, a Qatar-based chain of supermarkets and hypermarkets chain is set to expand into the UAE with the opening of Kenz Hypermarket in Ajman. According to Arabian Business News, the hypermarket is one of three businesses under the Saudia Group umbrella investing 80 million AED ($21 million) in the opening, which is said to be the company’s first outside of Qatar. NK Musthafa, chairman of Saudia Group of Companies …

US convenience chain 7-Eleven has entered the single serving coffee category with the release of three varieties of store branded coffee pods. The varieties 100% Colombian, Pumpkin Spice and Exclusive Blend are now available in packs of eight pods, retailed at $3.99. The latter two flavour varieties are also available in packs of two pods retailed at $0.99. Dennis Phelps, VP for fresh foods and proprietary beverages at 7-Eleven, said …

In an attempt to streamline its natural and organic portfolios, US supermarket chain Meijer has joined its two private label brands Meijer Organics and Meijer Naturals into one single brand called True Goodness. The company is starting by transitioning 225 of its organic and natural products to the True Goodness brand. By early 2016 the company expects to expand the range to 325 products. The product range includes frozen foods, …

Retail firm Ahold has opened the doors to Bfresh, the firm’s new fresh-focused store concept, in Allston, Boston, USA. According to the company, the new store represents “a complete departure from traditional brick-and-mortar grocery stores”. Although similar in concept to Everything Fresh – a store that the company opened in Philadelphia in 2013 – Bfresh is three times larger at 10,000 sq ft and is said to be a ‘learning …

Discount retailer Lidl is looking to expand its footprint in London by opening 280 stores within the capital and the surrounding areas, according to a report in City AM. Among the target locations are the pricier areas of London including Kensington, Chiswick, Dulwich, Wimbledon, Fulham, Clapham, Waterloo and Kingston. The move forms part of Lidl’s drive to increase its UK store count to 1,500. Currently the retailer operates 629 stores, including …

Albert Heijn, the Netherlands’ leading supermarket chain, is considering establishing an e-commerce presence in China, according to reports in the Dutch media. It is reported that, earlier in September, the retailer briefly set up an experimental store on the Chinese e-commerce platform Tmall, which is part of the Alibaba empire. The company was said to be offering for sale products from its own private label brand range, in addition to the …

Stokrotka, the Polish retail chain owned by Emperia Holding, has announced plans for further expansion as the company seeks to take its store count into three figures. The company opened 16 new stores in H1 of 2015 and plans to expand still further in the last six months of the year. The new stores include 4 supermarkets, 8 smaller stores and 4 franchise stores. The expansion comes on the back …

Sobeys, Canada’s second largest food retailer, is looking to tap the ethnic market with the opening of its first South Asian discount grocery store, according to a report in Convenience Store News. Named Chalo! FreshCo – the word “chalo” meaning “let’s go” in South Asia – the new store is located in Brampton, Ontario and is 50,000 square foot in size. Visitors will reportedly be able to find thousands of …

Discount retailer Aldi has unveiled plans for as many as 120 new stores in Australia as part of long-term expansion plans in the country, according to a report in Australian Food News. In a statement, the chain revealed that it would be looking to open 65 new stores in 2016, including 20 that had been previously been announced for each of South Australia and Western Australia, along with 25 new stores …

Dutch retailer Spar has unveiled a new marketing campaign designed to promote its own brand range, by offering consumers the chance to ‘swap’ branded products they have already bought for Spar private label products. The week-long initiative, which will take place in early September under the name “Inruilweek” (“Exchange Week”), will allow Spar customers to bring selected categories of FMCG product into store and exchange it for an equivalent product …

Retail giant Carrefour has revealed that it is in exclusive negotiations with Altarea Cogedim, owner of Rue du Commerce, for the purchase of the e-commerce retailer. Rue du Commerce has a diverse product range, predominantly in technology and DIY products, but also has a broad offering in the beauty and fragrance space, including brands such as Calvin Klein, Azzaro, Paco Rabanne, Kerastase, Gloss!!, Markwins, and L’Oreal. In a press release, …

Mibelle, a private label cosmetics producer that is part of the Swiss retail group Migros, is seeking to make its products available in India through a cooperation agreement between Migros and Indian retail firm Future Group. Migros CEO Luigi Pedrocchi commented on the move by stating that the objective was to develop new brands and products for the Indian body care market. The step would also allow the company to …

Leading Dutch supermarket chain Albert Heijn has announced the launch of new ‘recipe boxes’, allowing consumers to cook three recipes from scratch based on fresh ingredients. The Albert Heijn Aller Hande Box is based around the store’s popular Aller Hande recipe service, which was first launched in 1954 and now attracts 100,000 visitors every day, browsing a database of over 14,000 recipes. Boxes can be ordered for home delivery or …

Femsa, the Mexican FMCG and retail conglomerate, is preparing to move into Chile, according to a report in America Retail. The company, which is also the world’s largest Coca-Cola bottler, is said to be looking to install its Oxxo retail chain in the country and also to be exploring a partnership with Andina, Chile’s main bottler of Coca-Cola. Currently Femsa has 64 bottling plants in the Philippines and Latin America …

UK supermarket chain Morrisons is to launch a new milk brand that is claimed to support dairy producers by ensuring that 10 pence per litre of the retail milk price is returned directly to farmers. The move comes on the back of a number of direct action protests by farmers targeting the retailer’s stores. “We recognise that the current market for liquid milk is impacting on hardworking dairy farmers and …

Grupo Exito, the leading Colombian supermarket that also has a presence in Uruguay, has announced the acquisition of the Argentinean chain of hypermarkets Libertad. In the same transaction, the group also acquired 50% of the voting shares of the Brazilian chain GPA (Grupo Pao de Acucar), equivalent to 18.8% of total capital of the firm. The value of the transaction is said to be in the order of $ 1.826 …

It has been announced that Parmalat has won a five-year contract “to supply Woolworths’ private label milk in NSW and South Australia”. According to Food and Drinks Business News, the company was the successful contender a $100 million battle for the Woolworths’ private label brand contract after edging out rivals Lion and Murray Goulburn. Lion is said to have retained the contract in Tasmania. The Australian also report that the …

Swiss cooperative Migros is entering the race for stores in the German Kaiser’s-Tengelmann supermarket chain, which have recently been put up for sale. Migros is already present in Germany through the supermarket chain Tegut and is now seeking to purchase 130 Kaiser’s-Tengelmann stores to expand its reach in the country. Speaking to the Swiss magazine Blick, Jörg Blunschi, Migros managing director, said the purchase of the stores in Bavaria would …

Drogerie Markt (DM), Germany’s leading retailer of health & beauty products and housewares, is expanding for the first time into online retail, according to a report in Lebensmittel Praxis. Launched on the 14th July, the e-commerce platform allows consumers to choose from a range of 11,000 products that is similar to that available in DM’s high street stores. Ordering is done on the basis of ‘parcels’ with a capacity of …

French supermarket chain Systeme U is set to expand its convenience business with the aim of generating over €3 billion ($3.3 billion) from convenience store sales by 2020, according to articles in Rayon Boissons and ESM. To achieve this objective, the retailer is reported to be establishing a dedicated team with a view to launching the new concept in early 2016. The strategy is said to focus on developing three …

France-based firm Danone is experimenting with a new ‘screen’ technology that allows it to communicate messages to consumers digitally at point of sale, according to an article in LSA. Designed for the transparent ‘doors’ that are a now common feature of many supermarket chiller cabinets, the screen is intended to increase interaction with the consumer in the retail environment and encourage more impulse purchases. The 1.6mm screen, designed by Canadian …

El Corte Ingles, the leading Spanish grocery and department store, is planning to expand internationally with locations potentially in Mexico, Italy and Peru, according to a report in El Confidencial Digital (ECD). Currently present only in Spain and Portugal, the retailer is now said to be seeking new avenues for growth, backed by investment from Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani of Qatar, who has taken a 10% …

Starbucks has announced it will partner with Taste Holdings for the opening of its first outlets in South Africa in 2016. According to a company statement, the license agreement sees Taste owning the exclusive rights to develop Starbucks retail outlets in South Africa and it will own and operate the stores directly. “We are proud to be bringing Starbucks to South Africa next year,” said Kris Engskov, president, Starbucks Europe, …

Walmart is developing a new technology which could one day could replace barcodes and reduce supermarket checkout times, according to an article in TheDrum. The US retail giant is reportedly experimenting with invisible watermarks on product packaging, meaning that products could be recognised using a single scan anywhere on their surface area, rather than a defined strip. The technology, which is being created by Walmart’s Lab 415-C, could help speed …

Grupo Pao de Acucar, the leading Brazilian supermarket chain, has opened a new branch of its Minuto Pao de Acucar convenience stores that is scheduled to be open for only one month during the wintertime. Located in in the Market Plaza shopping centre in Campos do Jordao, Sao Paulo, the store opened on the 3rd July and is due to close again on the 2nd August. The aim of the …